THRESHOLD
Episode 31
Part D

 

Kes: "Doctor," he leaves his office at the call, "the rate of genetic mutation has accelerated by 12 per cent."

Doctor: "I want you to run a nucleogenic scan to determine how much of his original DNA is left intact. In the meantime, I'm going to see about treating him with-"

Paris: "Doctor!" The Doctor sighs: "What is it now, Mr Paris?" Paris: "I need to talk." The mutation and lack of tongue mean that he cannot be easily understood when he talks. Doctor: "So I've noticed. Is it urgent? I'm rather busy right now." Paris: "Urgent, yes, urgent."

The Doctor goes closer to him. Paris: "Let me out of here." Doctor: "I'm afraid that's not possible."

Paris: "Please. I can't stay here. I have to get off this ship." Kes: "Leave Voyager? Why?" Paris: "I understand. It's all so clear now." Doctor: "What do you understand?" Paris: "The present, the past, they're both in the future. The future is in the past." Doctor: "I beg your pardon?" Paris: "Listen to me! I am more. I'm everything. Let me go." Kes: "Go where, Tom?"

Paris: "I can't!" He slumps. "Please! Please!" Doctor to Kes: "Something tells me we'd better hurry."

Briefing Room. Doctor, on monitor: "I believe the answer lies in forcing his DNA to revert to its original coding. Once that occurs, his body should return to its former state." Chakotay: "How do we do that?" Doctor, on monitor: "We destroy all of the new DNA in his body. His cells will have to use the original coding as a blueprint. But the only way to destroy the mutant DNA is with highly focussed anti-proton radiation." Torres: "Anti-protons? The only place on this ship which generates anti-protons is the warp core." Doctor, on monitor: "Exactly. I'd like to place Mr Paris in an isotropic restraint and then infuse it with controlled anti-proton bursts — a tricky venture, but I see no other alternative." Torres: "We'll have to take the warp core offline, then I'll need about three hours to set up an interface." Doctor, on monitor: "In three hours, there won't be anything left of Mr Paris to save. We have to make the attempt within an hour, at the most." Janeway: "Get moving." Chakotay and Torres do so.

In Engineering, Paris has been placed in isotropic restraint by the warp core.

Engineering. Doctor, on monitor: "What's your status, Lieutenant?" Torres: "The interface is charged and ready."

Doctor, on monitor: "Infuse him with a 2-second anti-proton burst."

Torres to Jonas: "Take the warp engines offline. Bleed off .57 AMUs of anti-proton radiation. Shunt it through the interface." Jonas: "Transfer underway."

Paris struggles to get free.

Sickbay. Kes: "Doctor, the mutated DNA in his liver cells has begun to deteriorate, but the original coding isn't taking over." Doctor: "I don't understand. This should be working. We'll have to increase the duration of the bursts. Lieutenant, prepare a 5-second burst. Also, you'll need to begin depolarising the-"

Suddenly there is mayhem in Engineering as Paris breaks out of the isotropic chamber. Torres, on monitor: "My God!" Doctor: "Lieutenant?" There is phaser fire. Torres, on monitor: "Call Security!" Doctor: "Lieutenant! What's happening?" Crewmen are shouting to each other: "No! Look over there! Shut it all down!"

Suddenly there is a flare of light to be seen on Sickbay's monitor.

The monitor link is cut. Tuvok, via shipwide comms: "This is a level-3 security alert. All hands report to duty stations." Paris has escaped and is loose on the ship.

Janeway, via comms, as she hurries along a corridor to a turbolift: "Janeway to Bridge. Report."

Chakotay, via comms: "Paris broke out of confinement in engineering. He used a phaser on the port plasma conduit. We have power failures all over the ship." Janeway, via comms: "Where is he now?" Chakotay: "We're having trouble tracking him. We can't get power to the internal sensors. Tuvok has security teams searching deck by deck."

Janeway, via comms: "I'm on my way to the Bridge." She goes to enter a turbolift but stops still, sensing someone behind her.

She draws her phaser and turns. She fires just as Paris jumps on her.

She falls unconscious within the turbolift.

Bridge. Kim: "Phaser discharge on Deck 6." Chakotay: "Localise it." Kim: "I'm still having trouble with internal sensors. It came from somewhere between Sections 21 and 27-alpha."

Chakotay: "Tuvok doesn't have any security in that area." Via comms: "Chakotay to Tuvok. We think Paris may be on deck 6. Deploy security to Sections 21 through 27-alpha."